70-Year-Old Nurse Finds Joy Painting After 50-Year Career

For Annie Delaine, saying goodbye to nursing after 50 years felt impossible. The 70-year-old had spent 16 years caring for entire communities in Australia's Torres Strait Islands, delivering babies and managing regional operating rooms, and she loved every moment.

She tried to retire four times before finally deregistering as a nurse just to stop herself from going back. "I thought to myself, 'How am I going to fill in the gap?' Because it was a big one to fill," she said.

The answer came in the form of the biggest canvas her husband could buy. For a year, it sat untouched behind their spare bedroom door while Annie wrestled with fear.

Then one day, she got brave and pulled it out. "Painting is now my happy place," she laughed. "I can lose hours and hours and then realise the sun is going down."

Two years later, Annie has a dedicated art room in her home and is exhibiting her work at South Australia's Living Artists Festival alongside seven other local women. Through art classes, she's built an entirely new social circle.

Sunny's Take

Annie's transformation reflects a growing shift in how Australians approach retirement. Visual arts participation among people over 50 jumped 7 percent between 2022 and 2025, as more retirees seek creative outlets.

John Selfe knows this journey well. After moving to Renmark three years ago, he experienced crushing loneliness until his sister dragged him to a local art class. "I started off very nervous, thinking, 'Am I going to make a fool of myself?' But you just let your pencil do the talking," he said. "It just lights up your life."

Professor Melody Ding from the University of Sydney says this social connection matters as much as financial planning. "Loneliness, especially sustained periods, could potentially cause long-term health impacts, including early mortality," she explained.

When people retire, they often lose their sense of purpose and identity. Starting hobbies early and building social networks can make all the difference.

Kate Yates, who tutors art classes for over 20 retirees each week through U3A in South Australia's Riverland, sees confidence bloom regularly. "Putting ourselves out of our comfort zone is very good for us," she said. "Here, you have to keep mingling and meeting new people."

Annie's message rings clear: it's never too late to discover what lights you up.